The Heavenly Chorus

Today the heavenly chorus welcomed it's newest member. My Grandpa passed away peacefully this morning at 12:30 a.m. My Dad was with him. We are rejoicing that he has found his final place; we are devastated to be left behind.

My friend Anda told me earlier this week about the passing of her Grandmother and how, despite her age, it was still difficult to say goodbye. "I think the hardest part was that it was the end of an era." I think she is right. Somehow it seems odd that my Dad will now be the oldest male for our family....Grandpa has just always been there. They have farmed together for the last 40 years...shared every holiday...talked every day. My heart aches for my Dad, my Grandmother, my Aunt. Moreover, it aches for my children.

I ache that because of their age they won't remember him very well when they are older. I ache that they won't be able to hear his voice in their ears reminding them to pray and be kind. I ache that they are learning about death in a very vivid way. Our Leve is especially struck by what is happening. I have been honest with her and have tried to sooth her when she cries. I don't blame her for crying. It IS confusing....why would a God that loves me so much take away someone I love so dearly, especially after I prayed that He wouldn't? If Jesus is everywhere why does Grandpa need to die to go and see Him? You can try to explain theology all you want, but this is kinda tricky stuff.

So, for now we are thankful for the time we had to kiss and hug Grandpa. Thankful for songs that we sing to remind us of him. Thankful for the blessing his presence was to us and all that we learned from him. Thankful that we have an opportunity to have very important conversations with our children about the importance of believing in Jesus and the concept of eternity. Thankful that we have one another to lean on.

I do ask that you please continue to pray. For hearts to find peace and understanding, for strength for tomorrow, for the ability to love one another even more in the midst of our grief....we are thankful for all those prayers and the loving God who answers them.

HUGS,
Stacy

Happy Birthday, Finn!!!

Nine years ago this amazing boy came and stole my heart.

And filled my world with laughter, hugs, and cuddles.

I am blessed to be his Mom. Happy Birthday, Finn!

Encouraging a Friend

**THIS BLOG IS NOT MEANT TO BE A POLITICAL FORUM. IT IS A BLOG ABOUT ENJOYING PARENTHOOD. AS SUCH, PLEASE READ AND CONSIDER THIS REQUEST FROM THAT POINT OF VIEW, NOT AS A POLITICAL AGENDA.**

I want you to meet April. She has been a friend of mine since Kindergarten; one of my best friends in high school. She held the first party where I kissed a boy. We've shared secrets too numerous to count. We have laughed late into the night and eaten gallons of icecream. We've shared the bond of each having a diabetic sibling. We have incriminating videotapes of us lip syncing to mid-90s hits. She taught me about clothes and makeup and hair. As an adult she has continued to teach me.

You see, as a child, April was the only person I knew who talked about "pro-life"...in my world I hadn't heard the term. I didn't know what it meant. April made sure I did. She made sure a lot of people did. She never backed down. Never waivered. I think at the time there may have been a lot of people thought she was an idealist 'child' who really didn't know what she was talking about. How wrong they were. And how badly I wished she hadn't had to live what she believed.

April and her husband found out early in their pregnancy with Austin that he had anencephaly. The Doctors encouraged April and Aaron to terminate their pregnancy. They held strongly to their beliefs and carried Austin to term. Here is a beautiful tribute to Austin.

April and Aaron have not ended their teaching by living out their beliefs...they continue to encourage others through difficult pregnancies, share information and educate individuals who don't think they can chose pro-life. In short, they encourage others to respect life.

April is up for an award through the Catholic Diocese. Would you please take a moment and encourage April by voting for her? The Award comes with a monetary gift that would be used in my hometown community by April and her family. It is a simple click to "like" Catholic Extension (feel free to unlike after you've voted) and then a click on "vote" on the left side, then a click on "April Swenby" and a scroll down to the big "vote" button to vote. You can only vote once, but we'd appreciate you "sharing" to your Facebook, if you feel inclined.

Thank you so, so much for encouraging April and Aaron as they work to enjoy parenthood in the way that best suits them.


Stacy

When It Rains, It Pours

We've all heard the old adage...and, unfortunately, it's all too often true.

You've read about my Grandfather....he is currently receiving hospice care....things were up and down...he was getting better and they had planned to transfer him to a hospital closer to home and start him in rehab care. It didn't go as planned. Please continue to pray.


February 2012. 93 Years Young

A few days ago I made my nightly call to my Maternal Grandmother...she said she didn't feel well and I could tell it was different from other times. She said she was sure it was just the flu. I called and alerted my Mom...the next day my Mom called to let me know that my Grandma had suffered a stroke. Flu symptoms are some of the same symptoms as strokes. Blast!

She is now in the hospital getting care for her left side; the connections are all there, but need to be strengthened. She will be looking at staying in the hospital another few days, then going on to the nursing home to get additional care.

You know what she told me that night when I asked if I could call one of my aunts who lives nearby?

"You have four little ones...you take good care of them and don't worry about me."

Spoken like a true Grandmother. Please add her to your prayers, as well.

Thank you for your faithfulness.
Stacy

Thy Will Be Done

I ask for prayers a lot....it's just how I am.

This time it's for me...and my family...you read about my Grandparent's 65th Anniversary here. At that party my Grandfather didn't feel 100% and actually had a bit of a cough.  Last Saturday, March 10th, he was taken to the hospital by my Grandma and was diagnosed with pneumonia, a UTI, and a possible heart attack. Since then we have been on a rollercoaster of him feeling good enough to laugh and make witty remarks to him shaking and being as white as a sheet to him sitting up and eating and possibly getting moved to a rehab bed to him being too weak to even want to talk. He's exhausted....his diaphragm and stomach muscles hurt so badly from struggling to breath and handling the coughing. His bottom is terribly sore from sitting in the bed for the last 8 days. He is frustrated that he doesn't feel better and is sick of being in the hospital.

I won't even begin to talk about the exhaustion my Grandmother, Aunt, Dad, and our families all feel...it is a different sort of anxious-exhaustion that is clouding our world in the most foreign way. My Grandmother and Aunt spend the days with Grandpa, then my Dad comes and spends the evenings and overnights with him. The rest of our family and friends fill in whenever and wherever we can. We are blessed to have one another. We text and call...we try to keep one another in the loop of where we are on the rollercoaster. We are thankful for time together; even in these circumstances.
Yet, we still want to be able to DO something...

Grandpa holding my sweet nephew at Christmas...he LOVES babies.
TJ kept giving Grandpa kisses when we visited him last week; even snuggled up with Grandpa in his bed. Precious.

Today my Aunt texted "pray that God's will be done"...my Grandpa is not afraid to die....he actually told me he was hoping to see his daughter who passed last year, his parents, and some dear family friends. I think, he knows, however, how much he would be missed. How sad we'd all be without him. So, friends, please pray that God's will be done...and that we each might be filled with God's peace.

Thank you so much.
Stacy & Family

The Leprechauns CAME!

We've never had the lephrechauns to our house, but there is a first for everything...and they were certainly kind to us...maybe they know that our house is already too messy for Mommy to deal with so they didn't make it worse...in fact, they actually cleaned up a bit for us! ;)

There were golden treats leading the path of where they had been.

They used the potty!

And made a sparkly mess in the sink....

Green water in our curly willow planting we're sprouting.

And they left some presents for us!

The best gift the Lephrechauns brought was the Little Brown Haired Girl...can you imagine how psyched the kids will be when they wake up and find her sleeping on their floor?!!?!?!


Irish or not....HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!!

Dance Par-teh

So you know how sometimes we make folding laundry into a dance party?
Sometimes we just dance for fun, too.

The Spouse brought home his blacklight...turned on an I-pod...and we had an instant Dance Party. GOOD TIMES!!!